Swiveling locking mechanism of a telescopic rod of a mop

ABSTRACT

A swiveling locking mechanism of a telescopic rod of a mop, including: an internal clamping sleeve, an external clamping cylinder, and a U-shaped locking arm. The external clamping cylinder is mounted on the internal clamping sleeve and the lower portion of the external clamping cylinder is constructed as a trumpet-shaped opening mounted from top to bottom on the conic body. The U-shaped locking arm includes an eccentric cam is provided with a mounting hole corresponding to the axle hole of the internal clamping sleeve. Thus, when moving downward the U-shaped locking arm, the external clamping cylinder rises, and the trumpet-shaped opening of the external clamping cylinder is brought in a loosened position. As a result, the indentation is loosened and the internal rod and the external rod are brought into the unlocked and telescopic state and vice versa.

This patent application is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No.12/458,119, filed on Jul. 1, 2009, currently pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a swiveling locking mechanism of a telescopicrod of a mop, and more particularly to a structure in which an internalsleeve is clamped or unclamped by an external swivel action such thatthe telescopic rod is brought in a locked or unlocked state.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is laborious when people wash floors in a kneeling position.Therefore, a mop with a handle is developed. The user can stand andeasily hold the handle to move the mop for washing the floor.

The handle made specifically to be grasped or held by the hand of theoperator may consist of an external rod and an internal rod for makingthe handle in a telescopic state by means that the internal rod isdriven by the external rod. The telescopic function is beneficial forthe transportation or for storage with less space. However, a lockingmechanism is required at the attachment position of the external rod andinternal rod for locking them in place or unlocking them in a telescopicstate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,149 disclosed a net post for ball games comprisingprimarily a plurality of hollow tubes which are of different diametersand can be fitted one over the other. An adaptor comprising an outerscrewed sleeve member and a lining press member is provided for theconnection of two hollow tubes. A slidable threading lug is fitted overeach of the hollow tubes. By fitting the hollow tubes one over theother, the net posts of the 149' Patent can be reduced in dimensions tofacilitate storage, shipment and carrying and can also facilitateadjustment and operation.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,098,581, 2,841,425, 6,142,698 and 6,701,578, disclosedthe same elements which provided for connection of two hollow tubes asU.S. Pat. No. 4,948,149 such that it is not convenient to rotatemultiple circles of the outer screwed sleeve in a clockwise oranti-clockwise direction to adjust into the Lock or Unlock state.Especially, for small strength users who are unable to rotate the outerscrewed sleeve. Besides, it is not easy to control the cyclomatic numberso that the defective rate of the outer screwed sleeve can be raised.Therefore, there is room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a swiveling locking mechanismof a telescopic rod of a mop that has an ergonomic operation structurefor providing the operator with a convenient and effort-saving use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swiveling lockingmechanism of a telescopic rod of a mop that avoids an improper operationso that the defective rate can be reduced for prolonging the servicelife.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a swiveling lockingmechanism of a telescopic rod of a mop in accordance with the inventionincludes an internal rod, an external rod having a bottom portion in atelescopic connection with a top portion of the internal rod, a discattached to the bottom of the internal rod and having a plurality of mopyarns, and a locking mechanism mounted on the external rod for lockingthe internal rod and the external rod in place or for unlocking them ina telescopic state. The locking mechanism includes an internal clampingsleeve, an external clamping cylinder, and a U-shaped locking arm. Theupper portion of the internal clamping sleeve is constructed as aninternal tube for inserting to the middle part of the external rod andfixing the external rod in place. An axle hole is formed in both sidesof the internal clamping sleeve and lower portion of the internalclamping sleeve is formed as a conic body having an indentation expandsfrom top to bottom. Moreover, the external clamping cylinder is mountedon the internal clamping sleeve, and the upper portion of the externalclamping cylinder is constructed as an external tube corresponding tothe internal tube, and both sides of the external tube are provided withtwo hollow holes corresponding to the axle holes of the internal tube,and the lower portion of the external clamping cylinder is constructedas a trumpet-shaped opening mounted from top to bottom on the conicbody.

The U-shaped locking arm includes an eccentric cam at the both innersides of the opening portion thereof for symmetrically fitting into thehollow holes of the external clamping cylinder. Besides, the eccentriccam is provided with a mounting hole corresponding to the axle hole ofthe internal clamping sleeve. A swivel protrusion mounted in themounting hole and the inner portion thereof inserted in the axle hole ofthe internal clamping sleeve in order to swivel the opening portion ofthe U-shaped locking arm on the both sides of the external clampingcylinder. The eccentric length from the swivel protrusions to a flangeface of the outer side of the eccentric cam is smaller than a half widthof both sides of the hollow holes; is greater than a half height betweenthe upper wall and the bottom wall of the hollow holes.

When moving downward the U-shaped locking arm, the eccentric deflectsupward and the flange face thereof pushing the upper wall of the hollowhole. In this way, the external clamping cylinder rises and thetrumpet-shaped opening of the external clamping cylinder is brought in aloosened position corresponding to the conic body of the internalclamping sleeve. As a result, the indentation is loosened and brings theinternal rod and the external rod into the unlocked and telescopicstate.

On the other hand, when pulling upward the U-shaped locking arm, theeccentric deflects downward and the flange face thereof pushing thebottom wall of the hollow hole. In this way, the external clampingcylinder falls downward and the trumpet-shaped opening of the externalclamping cylinder is brought in a tightened position corresponding tothe conic body of the internal clamping sleeve. As a result, theindentation is so clamped that the internal rod and external rod are inthe locked state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following descriptions and its accompanyingfigures of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded perspective views of the main structure ofthe invention;

FIG. 3A is combined perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a side elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5A is a schematic drawing of the invention in a loosened positionwhen the external clamping cylinder is moved upward;

FIG. 5B is cross-sectional view taken along the line 5B-5B in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a schematic drawing of the invention in a tightened positionwhen the external clamping cylinder is moved downward;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6B-6B in FIG. 6A;and

FIG. 7 is an application example of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

First of all, referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, a preferred embodiment ofthe invention includes an internal rod 10, an external rod 20, a disc40, and a locking mechanism 30. The external rod 20 includes a bottomportion in a telescopic connection with a top portion of the internalrod 10. The disc 40 is attached to the bottom of the internal rod 10 andincludes a plurality of mop yarns 41. The locking mechanism 30 ismounted on the external rod 20 for locking the internal rod 10 and theexternal rod 20 in places or for unlocking them in a telescopic state.

According to the features of the invention, the locking mechanism 30includes an internal clamping sleeve 30 a, an external clamping cylinder30 b, and a U-shaped locking arm 30 c. The upper portion of the internalclamping sleeve 30 a is constructed as an internal tube 31 for theinsertion and the fixing of the bottom of the external rod 20 in place.In this embodiment, the internal clamping sleeve 30 a made of plasticwas inserted and fixed by the external rod 20. In the preferredembodiment, at least one positioning hole 21 on the external rod 20corresponds to at least one convex dot 311 on the internal rod 10 forlocking to each other. Thus, the internal clamping sleeve 30 a and theexternal rod 20 are stability coupled together. Moreover, the positionof the positioning hole 21 and convex dot 311 is able to be exchanged.An axle hole 32 as shown in FIG. 2A is formed in both sides of theinternal clamping sleeve 30 a. The lower portion of the internalclamping sleeve 30 a is formed as a conic body 33 expanding from top tobottom. The conic body 33 includes an indentation 34 extending in axialdirection. It is preferable to have more than two indentations 34.

With the reference of FIG. 2A, the external clamping cylinder 30 b ismounted on the internal clamping sleeve 30 a. The upper portion of theexternal clamping cylinder 30 b is constructed as an external tube 35corresponding to the internal tube 31. Both sides of the external tube35 are provided with two hollow holes 36 corresponding to the axle holes32 of the internal tube 31. According to the embodiment, the hollowholes 36 are non-circular and constructed as rectangular holes; an upperwall 361 and a bottom wall 362 thereof are flat and both sides thereofare arcuate. Moreover, the lower portion of the external clampingcylinder 30 b is constructed as a trumpet-shaped opening 37 mounted fromtop to bottom on the conic body 33.

With the reference of FIGS. 2B and 3A, the U-shaped locking arm 30 cincludes an eccentric cam 38 at the both inner sides of the openingportion thereof for symmetrically fitting into the hollow holes 36 ofthe external clamping cylinder 30 b. Besides, the eccentric cam 38 isprovided with a mounting hole 381 corresponding to the axle hole 32 ofthe internal clamping sleeve 30 a. Swivel protrusions 39 mounted in themounting hole 381 and the inner portion thereof inserted in the axlehole 32 of the internal clamping sleeve 30 a in order to swivel theopening portion of the U-shaped locking arm 30 c on the both sides ofthe external clamping cylinder 30 b. As shown in FIG. 3B, the eccentriclength L from the swivel protrusions 39 to a flange face 382 of theouter side of the eccentric cam 38 is smaller than a half width W ofboth sides of the hollow holes 36; greater than a half height H betweenthe upper wall 361 and the bottom wall 362 of the hollow holes 36. Forexample, the width W of the hollow holes 36 is 10 mm, the height H is 7mm thereof, and the length L of the eccentric cam 38 is 4.5 mm.Above-mentioned size and the shape of the hollow holes 36 are set forthe eccentric cam 38 to push the upper wall 361 and the bottom wall 362thereof when moving the eccentric cam 38.

With the reference of FIGS. 5A and 5B, when moving downward the U-shapedlocking arm 30 c, the eccentric cam 38 deflects upward and the flangeface 382 thereof pushing the upper wall 361 of the hollow hole 36. Inthis way, the external clamping cylinder 30 b rises and thetrumpet-shaped opening 37 of the external clamping cylinder 30 b isbrought in a loosened position corresponding to the conic body 33 of theinternal clamping sleeve 30 a. As a result, the indentation 34 isloosened and brings the internal rod 10 and the external rod 20 into theunlocked and telescopic state.

With the reference of FIGS. 6A and 6B, when pulling upward the U-shapedlocking arm 30 c, the eccentric cam 38 deflects downward and the flangeface 382 thereof pushing the bottom wall 361 of the hollow hole 36. Inthis way, the external clamping cylinder 30 b falls downward and thetrumpet-shaped opening 37 of the external clamping cylinder 30 b isbrought in a tightened position corresponding to the conic body 33 ofthe internal clamping sleeve 30 a. As a result, the indentation 34 is soclamped that the internal rod 10 and external rod 20 are in the lockedstate.

The U-shaped locking arm 30 c has a longer force arm relative to theeccentric cam 38 so it is effort-saving when operating the U-shapedlocking arm 30 c. As shown in FIG. 7, the locking mechanism 30 inaccordance with the invention has an ergonomic operation structure thatprovides a convenient and effort-saving using method for the operatormoving only the U-shaped locking arm 30 c upward or downward in order tobring the internal rod 10 and the external rod 20 in a locked orunlocked state.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mop comprising: a telescopic rod assemblyhaving: a) an internal rod; b) an external rod having a bottom portionin a telescopic connection with a top portion of the internal rod; c) adisc attached to the bottom of the internal rod and having a pluralityof mop yarns; and d) a swiveling locking mechanism mounted on theexternal rod for selectively locking the internal rod relative to theexternal rod in place and for selectively unlocking the internal rodrelative to the external rod in a telescopic state, the swivelinglocking mechanism including an internal clamping sleeve, an externalclamping cylinder, and a U-shaped locking arm; wherein the upper portionof the internal clamping sleeve is constructed as an internal tube forinserting and fixing the bottom of the external rod in place, and anaxial hole is formed in both sides of the internal clamping sleeve, andthe lower portion of the internal clamping sleeve is formed as a conicalbody expanding from top to bottom, and the conic body includes anindentation; wherein the external clamping cylinder is mounted on theinternal clamping sleeve, and the upper portion of the external clampingcylinder is constructed as an external tube corresponding to theinternal tube, and both sides of the external tube are provided with twohollow holes corresponding to the axial holes of the internal tube, andthe lower portion of the external clamping cylinder is constructed as atrumpet-shaped opening mounted from top to bottom on the conical body;wherein the U-shaped locking arm includes an eccentric cam at both innersides of an opening portion thereof for symmetrically fitting into thehollow holes of the external clamping cylinder, and the eccentric cam isprovided with a mounting hole corresponding to the axial hole of theinternal clamping sleeve, and swivel protrusions mounted in the mountinghole and the inner portion thereof inserted in the axial hole of theinternal clamping sleeve in order to swivel the opening portion of theU-shaped locking arm on the both sides of the external clampingcylinder, and an eccentric length L from the swivel protrusions to aflange face of the outer side of the eccentric cam is smaller than ahalf width W of both sides of the hollow holes, and greater than a halfheight H between an upper wall and a bottom wall of the hollow holes;whereby, when moving downward the U-shaped locking arm, the eccentriccam deflects upward and the flange face thereof pushing the upper wallof the hollow hole, the external clamping cylinder rises and thetrumpet-shaped opening of the external clamping cylinder is brought in aloosened position corresponding to the conical body of the internalclamping sleeve, the indentation is loosened and leads the internal rodand the external rod into the unlocked and telescopic state; andwhereby, when pulling upward the U-shaped locking arm, the eccentricdeflects downward and the flange face thereof pushing the bottom wall ofthe hollow hole, the external clamping cylinder falls downward and thetrumpet-shaped opening of the external clamping cylinder is brought in atightened position corresponding to the conical body of the internalclamping sleeve, the indentation is clamped such that the internal rodand external rod are in the locked state.
 2. The mop as recited in claim1 wherein said swiveling locking mechanism further includes at least onepositioning hole on the external rod correspond to at least one convexdot on the internal rod for locking to each other.
 3. The mop as recitedin claim 1 wherein the upper wall and the bottom wall of the hollow holeare flat and both sides thereof are arcuate.